What a sealant does
The biting surface of a molar is not flat. It has grooves deep enough to trap food and bacteria but too narrow for a toothbrush bristle to reach into. A sealant fills them with a thin resin coating, so there is nowhere for decay to start.
Who they help most
Children, usually, once the permanent molars come through at around six and again at around twelve. Those first years after a tooth arrives are when it is most at risk. Adults who keep getting cavities in the same grooves can have them too.
What happens at your appointment
The tooth is cleaned and dried, the sealant is painted into the grooves, and a curing light sets it hard. Nothing is drilled and no numbing is needed. A tooth takes a couple of minutes.
How long they last
Sealants wear down under chewing, so they are checked at each visit and topped up or replaced when they start to thin.
